Episode 10 Continued - It's time.
"Master," Sebastian said then, gazing up as I sat at my desk. "The king ordered another task?"
"Indeed," I said, dropping the note on my desk, "he did."
"May I ask what it is?" Sebastian said then, standing in front of me.
I sighed and rubbed my temples. "Another scandal. But that's all I deal with, isn't it?" I then gazed up at Sebastian. "Apparently there's a string of missing children, Sebastian. Rich children specifically, and no... not children, more like teens."
Sebastian arched a brow. "Oh? Did the king say they were connected to something?"
I gazed up then. "A carnival."
Sebastian's eyes grew in shock, and he stared at me for a long moment before settling back into himself. "That's unfortunate and familiar."
"Yes, because Ciel encountered his trauma at a circus?" I said then, sighing as I set my head on the desk. "And my trauma is connected to a freak show? Now I have to investigate a carnival with a freak show. This is crazy dejavu... I guess I do have Ciel's soul, don't I? I'm not very pleased about it. Especially knowing it's connected to missing teenagers." I grew silent as my lashes lowered. "Like I was when they took me."
I just heard Sebastian's shoes click on the floor as he stepped over to me, and he knelt down so he could see my face, eyes soft.
"Master," he said gently, "you can turn down the task."
"The king won't trust me if I do," I said quietly. "I have to remain loyal to him."
"Ciel was very loyal to Queen Victoria," Sebastian said then, lashes lowering. "She ended up turning on him."
"Just because one Queen happened to be selfish doesn't mean that all of them are." I gazed down at him to find his smile soft. "Everyone adored Queen Elizabeth. I miss her so... being her guard dog. King Charles is alright but not the same. I don't have any reason to suspect foul play on his part, though."
Sebastian chuckled. "Ciel didn't suspect foul play on Queen Victoria's part either but look what happened."
I just blinked. "Did he remain the guard dog the entire time?"
Sebastian nodded. "Indeed. There was a fake queen to replace the real one for a while."
"Oh, so Queen Victoria died," I said, closing my eyes. "How typical of you, Sebastian."
He chuckled a little. "My, my, so quick to blame me, my lord."
"Was it you who killed her?" I said then.
His smiled widened a little. "Indeed."
"Then I have a right to blame you," I sat up straighter, sighing when he stood, as well. "Every time something so popular and insane goes missing or gets killed, it is you who has done it. How else do we defeat all these monsters?"
He smiled and bowed before me. "I only do as my master asks."
I then gazed over at him when he stood straighter, lashes lowering.
He kept his eyes locked on mine, smile still there.
I looked away then, deciding to change the subject. "May I ask why you tore into that selfish Davenpot's chest? You told me the only way to get to a soul was by kissing."
"Correction," he said then, smiling with his eyes closed, "I meant the only way to get to a soul without damaging the body of the host was by kissing. I only told you that because I didn't like the idea of tearing my hands into your chest. Your funeral wouldn't be pretty."
"How kind of you," I muttered then, tapping my finger impatiently on the desk.
He just chuckled. "Relax, master. I'm no longer going to kill you."
I gazed up then, looking over at him suspiciously. "I just remembered I had a question to ask you."
He opened his eyes. "What is it, master?"
"How did you fix the contract?" I said then. "How is it done?"
"Well, it's a contract, master," he answered, still smiling. "Shake hands and it's set. Let alone the fact that I didn't take your soul and the seal is still there, meaning the contract has changed."
I narrowed my eyes. "If you weren't going to take my soul, then why did you kiss me?"
His eyes glowed a dark red as his smile widened.
I just glared. "You are insufferable."
"As you've said before, my lord." He was still smiling.
I just made an impatient sound. "If I said it that many times, I really mean it."
"That's typically how a lie works, master," Sebastian said then, making me shoot him a look. "Say it so many times that you believe it."
"I'm going to kill you," I said then, standing and brushing off my skirt. "I swear on it."
Sebastian gave me an amused glance. "I'll be waiting for you to try."
I just ignored his comment and gazed down at the note on the desk, lashes lowering as a sudden cold consumed me.
The room was silent for a couple minutes.
"Are you really going through with it?" Sebastian said quietly. "Knowing that there will be a freak show?"
"I know the circus and the carnival aspects are very similar," I said quietly, "but there's a slight chance that I won't be exposed to something as dangerous as Ciel was. Ciel didn't expect what was coming when he entered the circus... I am expecting it. It's different circumstances."
Sebastian's lashes lowered. "Master, just because you know something might happen doesn't mean it'll give you an advantage. You know this."
"In Ciel's case, when he was investigating the missing children that were related to the circus, he found they were being used as part of the staff in the main show... but in a... darker manor."
"That's not all the children were used for, my lord." Sebastian's voice was dark.
I closed my eyes tightly when flashes of images I saw shoved through me... the blood of the children... the bones... their emotionless eyes.
My voice was quiet. "I... I know."
"And you understand that 'the father' person might be responsible for these disappearances?" Sebastian said then.
"I doubt it," I replied quietly, "the Overtaker has been kidnapping children, teens, and adults. He has a whole spectrum of victims. This carnival is just targeting teenagers. Most probably forcing them into the freak show or something... I honestly don't know. But I have a high suspicion that this is someone else's doing. It seems too much work for the Overtaker and too time consuming."
Sebastian still watched me with dark eyes.
"But, alas, you are right. We must be prepared, either way."
I silenced then, and he did, too, clearly watching me still.
But I heard his footsteps tap in my direction, and I gazed up immediately to find him standing above me.
He lightly caught my shoulders I turned to face him, and he smiled.
I stared at him out of pure curiosity, wondering what he was thinking.
I could never tell... his expression was always masked with amusement, and whenever he didn't want me to read it, he would hide it with a smile or a numb look.
Sebastian just gently caught my cheek and ran his thumb under my exposed eye, finally tipping my chin up.
I watched his eyes glow a demonic red.
And his lips fell on mine.
I shattered.
I gave into him for a second, feeling his hand lightly push to the small of my back and wrap around my waist.
He pulled me closer, deepening the kiss for another couple seconds.
And he pulled away, eyes glowing their demonic red as he stared down at me.
With. That. Smile.
A tumble of butterflies rushed through me, and I felt my face heat immediately.
I covered my mouth then, wanting to snap at him but I wasn't sure what I was going to say. I could call him names, but my thoughts were rushing by so fast I couldn't grasp one.
Sebastian just smiled, pupils slitting once more. "Master, if you really want to resist. Don't leave yourself vulnerable. It only leads to disaster."
My eyes grew in panic, but he just bowed again before standing and staring at me with those demonic eyes.
"I shall go get your evening tea prepped, my lord. We have a big day tomorrow, don't we?"
He then walked out from the room, leaving me stranded in my own confusion and odd comfort.
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